House endorses martial law for Aceh
<p>House endorses martial law for Aceh</p><p>The Jakarta Post, Jakarta</p><p> House of Representatives speakers on Monday endorsed the
government's decision to impose martial law in Aceh, the basis of
launching a military offensive against Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
separatists.</p><p>House speaker Akbar Tandjung said the government had consulted
House leaders about the offensive.</p><p>"The House has given full support to the government to take
the necessary action (against GAM)," said Akbar, also chairman of
the Golkar Party, the second largest party in the House.</p><p>House deputy speaker AM Fatwa from the National Mandate Party
concurred.</p><p>"When people in Aceh feel troubled by an armed group seeking
to secede from the unitary state of Indonesia, security
restoration is a must," Fatwa said in the South Sulawesi
provincial capital of Makassar.</p><p>President Megawati Soekarnoputri signed a presidential decree
late Sunday declaring martial law in Aceh, legalizing all out war
against GAM.</p><p>The decree was signed minutes after last-ditch talks between
the government and GAM representatives in Tokyo failed to salvage
a peace deal.</p><p>However, Muslim figure Ahmad Syafii Maarif said the imposition
of martial law in Aceh would fail to resolve the ongoing armed
conflict.</p><p>"The Acehnese have long been traumatized by the imposition of
the New Order's one-decade military operation. Therefore, the
fresh martial law status will definitely not support any
integrated conflict resolution," he said on Monday.</p><p>He feared martial law would only raise resentment against the
central government. Approximately 10,000 Acehnese were killed
during the 1988-1998 military operation.</p><p>Syafii and other influential figures including former foreign
minister Ali Alatas, former home affairs minister Soerjadi
Sudirdja and former United Development Party chairman Ismail
Hasan Meutareum are members of the government's team of experts
attempting to solve the crisis.</p><p>As martial law was already in place, Syafii suggested the
military and police protect civilians during their hunt for GAM
soldiers.</p><p>"Professionalism among military and police personnel is a
prerequisite in the imposition of martial law. Moreover, the
central government should also pay more attention to the
psychological impact of the military operation on the Acehnese,"
he said.</p><p>Syafii believed there was still a chance for dialog between
the Indonesian government and GAM, by replacing the mediator, the
Henry Dunant Centre, with Acehnese figures who understood the
problems in Aceh.</p><p>"That means no more foreign mediators or facilitators. The
central government should hold a dialog with GAM directly through
psychological, cultural, religious and customary approaches in a
bid to obtain Acehnese sympathy."</p><p>Separately on Monday, a number of civil society groups held
rallies in Jakarta to oppose the military operation in Aceh.</p><p>One group of Acehnese activists held a rally at the Hotel
Indonesia traffic circle to oppose the military operation and
demand a referendum to end the conflict.</p><p>Another group, led by the Committee of Mass Prayer for Peace
and Justice in Aceh, held a mass prayer at Taman Ismail Marzuki
plaza in Jl. Cikini Raya, Central Jakarta.</p>
government's decision to impose martial law in Aceh, the basis of
launching a military offensive against Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
separatists.</p><p>House speaker Akbar Tandjung said the government had consulted
House leaders about the offensive.</p><p>"The House has given full support to the government to take
the necessary action (against GAM)," said Akbar, also chairman of
the Golkar Party, the second largest party in the House.</p><p>House deputy speaker AM Fatwa from the National Mandate Party
concurred.</p><p>"When people in Aceh feel troubled by an armed group seeking
to secede from the unitary state of Indonesia, security
restoration is a must," Fatwa said in the South Sulawesi
provincial capital of Makassar.</p><p>President Megawati Soekarnoputri signed a presidential decree
late Sunday declaring martial law in Aceh, legalizing all out war
against GAM.</p><p>The decree was signed minutes after last-ditch talks between
the government and GAM representatives in Tokyo failed to salvage
a peace deal.</p><p>However, Muslim figure Ahmad Syafii Maarif said the imposition
of martial law in Aceh would fail to resolve the ongoing armed
conflict.</p><p>"The Acehnese have long been traumatized by the imposition of
the New Order's one-decade military operation. Therefore, the
fresh martial law status will definitely not support any
integrated conflict resolution," he said on Monday.</p><p>He feared martial law would only raise resentment against the
central government. Approximately 10,000 Acehnese were killed
during the 1988-1998 military operation.</p><p>Syafii and other influential figures including former foreign
minister Ali Alatas, former home affairs minister Soerjadi
Sudirdja and former United Development Party chairman Ismail
Hasan Meutareum are members of the government's team of experts
attempting to solve the crisis.</p><p>As martial law was already in place, Syafii suggested the
military and police protect civilians during their hunt for GAM
soldiers.</p><p>"Professionalism among military and police personnel is a
prerequisite in the imposition of martial law. Moreover, the
central government should also pay more attention to the
psychological impact of the military operation on the Acehnese,"
he said.</p><p>Syafii believed there was still a chance for dialog between
the Indonesian government and GAM, by replacing the mediator, the
Henry Dunant Centre, with Acehnese figures who understood the
problems in Aceh.</p><p>"That means no more foreign mediators or facilitators. The
central government should hold a dialog with GAM directly through
psychological, cultural, religious and customary approaches in a
bid to obtain Acehnese sympathy."</p><p>Separately on Monday, a number of civil society groups held
rallies in Jakarta to oppose the military operation in Aceh.</p><p>One group of Acehnese activists held a rally at the Hotel
Indonesia traffic circle to oppose the military operation and
demand a referendum to end the conflict.</p><p>Another group, led by the Committee of Mass Prayer for Peace
and Justice in Aceh, held a mass prayer at Taman Ismail Marzuki
plaza in Jl. Cikini Raya, Central Jakarta.</p>